Vacuum pump



Dec- 3, 1935. L. G. L. THOMAS 2,0229QJ41 VACUUM PUMP Filed Aug. 50, 19342 sheets-sheet 1 E j 713 u- 2 2:1., Q Z,

:ze ff LZ] /l//ll/ l/ ////H/ /T/Z Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,022,904 VACUUM PUMPA Louis G. L. Thomas, chicago, m.Application August 30, 1934, Serial No. 742,034 5 Claims. (Cl. 103-5)This invention relates to a vacuum pump primarily designed for heatingsystems but susceptible of other uses.

The object of this invention is to increase the efficiency of such pumpswhen applied to a heating system in avoiding the lifting of thecondensate through the vacuum.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of partshereinafter described and more particularly pointedout and defined inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of thisinvention and in which similar reference numerals refer tosimilarifeatures in the different views: I

Figure l is a front elevational view of a vacuum pump involving thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken upon the line II-II of Figure 1looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line III--IIIof Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken upon the line IV-IV of Figure 1looking in the direction of the arrows. I

In the drawings, there is shown a casing I having an upper vacuumchamber 2 and a lower storage or water circulating chamber 3. The vacuumchamber is provided with an inlet 4 (Figure 1) which is designed to beconnected with the radiators or the like of a heating system and toreceive the condensate and air from the radiators. 'Ihis vacuum chamberhas a downwardly extending passage 5 that registers with an opening 8 inthe casing. A collar 1 is attached to the casing and extends into theopening 6. A check valve 8 is pivoted to the collar 1 as indicated at 9and abuts a stop I0 upon the collar to prevent the same from swinginginwardly. The passage 5 and opening 6 communicate with a chamber IIformed in a jet injector casing I2 attached to the casing I or any othervacuum producing apparatus. 'Ihe jet injector I3 is adapted to dischargeinto a flaring tubular passage I4 formed in a tubular member I 5extending into the casing. This jet injector is well known and forms nopart of this invention except in so far as it cooperates communicateswith the chamber 3 through a passage I8 formed in the pump casing.

When the centrifugal pump is operating, it will draw water through thepassage I8 and discharge the same back into the chamber 3 through thejet injector, creating thereby a water circulating system and producinga vacuum in the 5 chamber II which causes the check valveto open so thata vacuum will also be produced in the gravity to mingle with the waterin the circulat- 10 ing system.

`The pump is adapted to be driven by a vertical motor I9 resting upon astandard 20 attached to the pump casing. Y

A float 2I is located in the vacuum chamber 2 15 and isequipped with astem 22 which is secured in a coupling member 23 fast upon a short shaft24 which extends through the wall of a hollow boss 25 formed upon aplate 26 attached to the side of the casing I. An arm 21 is attached tothe 20 shaft 24 within the hollow boss and a switch operating link orrod 28 is connected to the arm 21.

In the water` circulating chamber, there is a similar float 2l having astem 22 anchored in a 25 coupling 23 fastened to a similar shaft 24extending into a hollow boss 25 on a second plate 26. An arm 21 securedupon the shaft within this second boss has a switch operating link orrod 29 connected thereto. The rods 28 and 29 are 30 adapted to controlone or more switches located in a switch box 30 for controlling themotor.

When the motor stops for any reason and the circulation of water ceases,the chamber I I will have atmospheric pressure while there will be a 35partial vacuum in the chamber 2. 'Ihis difference in pressure will keepthe check valve closed with the result that the condensate willaccumulate in the vacuum chamber 2 until the float 2| therein is raisedsuiliciently to actuate the switch 4o for starting the motor. Thestarting of the motor will cause a circulation of the water in thecirculating system and create a vacuum in the chamber II so that thecheck valve will open and allow the condensate to flow by gravity to the45 circulating chamber.

'I'he float 2| in the circulating chamber will also start the motor whenthe water reaches the proper height after a discharge to the boiler.

It will be appreciated that the eiort hereto- 50 fore required in pumpsof this character to raise or elevate the condensate has beeneliminated. In thepresent instance, the condensate returns by gravitywhen the vacuums in the chambers 2 and II are in proper relation. 55

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I do not therefore purposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vacuum pump; a casing, a partition dividing said casing into anupper vacuum chamber and a lower circulating chamber, a pump havingconnections with said circulating chamber for .circulating a fluidtherethrough, a vacuum producer in one of said connections, said vacuumchamber having a passage leading to said vacuum producer and a checkvalve in said passage. i

2. In a vacuum pump, a casing having a horizontal partition dividing thesame into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower circulating chamber, aninjector housing attaching to said casing and forming a chambertherebetween, an injector in said housing, a pump connected with saidinjector and said casing for circulating water therethrough, said vacuumchamber having a passage leading to said injector chamber, a check valvein said passage controlled by the vacuum in said vacuum chamber and saidinjector chamber, a motor connected to said pump, and means including aoat in said vacuum chamber for starting said motor, when the vacuum insaid vacuum chamber exceeds the vacuum in said injector chamber and thecondensate in said vacuum chamber has risen a predetermined extent.

`3. In a vacuum pump for heating systems, a caslnga horizontal partitiondividing said casing into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower watercirculating chamber, an injector housing on said casing and forming aninjector chamber therebetween, said upper chamber having a passageleading to said injector chamber for conveying condensate by gravity, acheck valve in said passage, a water circulating pump connected to saidinjector housing and said Water circulating chamber, a motor foroperating said pump, a switch for controlling said motor, and a iloat insaid vacuum chamber adapted for operating said switch when thecondensate therein rises a predetermined amount when the vacuum in saidvacuum chamber and said injector chamber maintain said check valve inclosed position.

4. In a vacuum pump for heating systems, a casing having a partitiondividing the same into an upper vacuum chamber for receiving condensateand a lower circulating chamber, an injector housing attached to saidcasing and forming a chamber therebetween, an injector in said housing,a pump operatively connected to said injector and to said watercirculating chamber, said vacuum chamber having a passage leading tosaid injector chamber, a check valve in said passage adapted to bemaintained in'closed position by a greater pressure in said injectorchamber than the pressure in said vacuum chamber, a motor connected tosaid pump, and means including a oat in said vacuum chamber for startingsaid motor when said check valve is maintained in closed position andthe condensate in said vacuum chamber has risen a predetermined extent.

5. In a vacuum pump for heating systems, a casing having a partitiondividing the same into an upper vacuum chamberadapted for receivingcondensate and a lower water circulating system, a pump havingconnections with said circulating chamber for circulating watertherethrough, a vacuum producer in one of said connections, said vacuumchamber having a passage communicating with said vacuum producer, acheck valve in said passage adapted to be opened by excess pressureagainst the side thereof facing said vacuum chamber, a motor foroperating said pump and means controlled by the condensate level in saidvacuum chamber for starting said motor should said check valve remainclosed.

' LOUIS G. L. THOMAS.

